New Star for the Met

The most opulent dramatic soprano voice in the land belongs to a singer rarely seen on an opera stage: 39-year-old Eileen Farrell. For more than a decade Singer Farrell has been dazzling audiences and critics alike from concert-hall stages. But partly because of her size (5 ft. 6 in., 185 lbs.), partly because of her wooden acting, she did not appear in a fully staged opera until 1956 (Cavalleria Rusticana in Florida). Since then, she has made occasional guest appearances--IL Trovatore and La Gioconda with the Chicago Lyric Opera, Medea and Ariadne auf Naxos with the San Francisco Opera. Last summer she took her great voice to Europe, won loud ovations in both London and Spoleto. Last week she received the most cherished honor of all: an invitation to sing with the Metropolitan Opera. Next season, Met Manager Rudolf Bing announced, null will be cast in the title role of Gluck's Alcestis. an opera last heard at the Metropolitan at Kirsten Flagstad's emotion-packed farewell performance in 1952. Said Soprano Farrell"I guess there wasn't anyone else around who could do it."

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